Mark 4 39

Mark 4:39 kjv

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39 nkjv

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39 niv

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4:39 esv

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39 nlt

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4 verses

Mark 4 39 Meaning

Mark 4:39 reveals Jesus's supreme and divine authority over creation. While in the midst of a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus, awakened by His terrified disciples, issued a direct and powerful command to the wind and the sea. His words, mirroring the language used for exorcism and the silencing of malevolent forces, instantly brought about a profound and supernatural calm, demonstrating His power not merely as a prophet or healer, but as God Himself, the one who rules over the forces of chaos.

Mark 4 39 Context

This miraculous event occurs within Mark chapter 4, primarily characterized by Jesus's teachings through parables concerning the Kingdom of God (e.g., the Sower, the Lamp, the Growing Seed, the Mustard Seed). Having just explained the Kingdom's nature in abstract terms, Jesus now provides a tangible demonstration of who is proclaiming and bringing this Kingdom—He is not merely a teacher but possesses ultimate authority over all creation. The disciples' subsequent fear and question, "Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?" (Mk 4:41), underscores the unprecedented nature of this miracle and sets the stage for increasing revelation of Jesus's divine identity throughout the Gospel of Mark. Historically, storms on the Sea of Galilee were known for their sudden ferocity, making the complete and immediate calm even more astonishing to seasoned fishermen who relied on the lake for their livelihood. This event confronts any notion of an unruly, untamed creation or pagan deities controlling natural forces, asserting Yahweh's sole dominion through Jesus.

Mark 4 39 Word analysis

• He woke up: Indicates Jesus's true humanity, subject to natural sleep and rest, yet also His profound peace and trust in God amidst chaos, allowing Him to sleep through the storm. It also highlights His physical presence and active engagement.
• and rebuked: Greek: ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen). This is a strong, authoritative verb, frequently used in Mark to describe Jesus's silencing or casting out of demonic spirits (e.g., Mk 1:25; 3:12), or even a fever (Lk 4:39). Its application to the natural elements (wind) implies that Jesus perceives a disorder or an underlying hostile force at play, or at least that He commands them with the same ultimate authority as He does over evil.
• the wind: Represents one of the most unpredictable and powerful forces of nature. Jesus's command demonstrates His authority extends beyond the physical and into the meteorological.
• and said to the sea: A direct, personal address, showing complete sovereignty and control, rather than a mere wish or prayer.
• “Silence!”: Greek: σιώπα (siōpa). An imperative command meaning "Be silent!" or "Shut up!" This term is also used by Jesus when addressing a demon (Mk 1:25). It conveys absolute cessation of noise and activity.
• “Be still!”: Greek: πεφίμωσο (pephimōso). This imperative literally means "Be muzzled!" or "Be gagged." It’s a very forceful command, implying the taming of a wild beast or the silencing of something that is rebellious. This word, too, is used by Jesus to silence demons (Mk 1:25). Its application to the sea suggests a deep-seated, potentially hostile, unruliness being brought under absolute divine control.
• The wind ceased: Greek: κοπάσας (kopasas). Means "to grow weary" or "to subside completely." It emphasizes the instantaneous and full obedience of the wind.
• and there was a great calm: Greek: γαλήνη μεγάλη (galēnē megalē). This describes an immediate, profound, and unnatural tranquility. Not a gradual dying down, but a sudden shift from extreme tempest to absolute stillness. It signifies divine intervention producing a perfect and immediate peace, transcending natural processes.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,": This sequence emphasizes Jesus's serene wakefulness in contrast to the raging storm and His immediate exercise of unique, unparalleled authority over creation, establishing Him as far more than human.
  • "“Silence! Be still!”": The twin, emphatic imperatives highlight the direct, powerful, and decisive nature of Jesus's command. The choice of words (particularly "Be muzzled!") carries strong implications of Jesus taming hostile, perhaps even malevolent or chaotic, forces, connecting His authority over nature to His authority over demons.

Mark 4 39 Bonus section

The scene can be interpreted as a mini-theophany, a self-disclosure of God in the person of Jesus Christ, reminding the audience of Yahweh's unique control over the cosmos. The act implicitly challenges any pagan understanding of natural forces controlled by multiple, temperamental deities, asserting monotheistic supremacy. Furthermore, the event powerfully illustrates Jesus's unique identity: truly human (sleeping due to fatigue) yet undeniably divine (exercising cosmic authority). This demonstration serves as a foundation for understanding His subsequent teachings, grounding His authority not just in His words but in His very being and power over all things. The total peace He brings to the external storm is a prophetic foretaste of the spiritual peace He offers amidst life's inner and outer storms for those who place their trust in Him.

Mark 4 39 Commentary

Mark 4:39 is a profound demonstration of Christ's divine nature and power. His words are not requests, but absolute commands that shatter the chaos of nature. The deliberate use of "rebuked" and commands like "Silence! Be still!" which parallel His interactions with demonic forces, signifies that for Jesus, the storm was not merely a natural phenomenon but a force to be subjugated with divine authority. It proclaims Jesus as the sovereign Lord over all creation, echoing Yahweh's dominion over the primordial waters and the seas in the Old Testament. This instant, complete calming from extreme chaos to absolute stillness confirms His deity. The event also served to educate the disciples, moving them from parables about the Kingdom's principles to a visceral experience of the Kingdom's King, provoking the ultimate question: "Who is this man?"